Here Still

A year ago, I visited Kashmir, the most densely militarized place on earth. It was Ramadan and a temporary cease fire was in place. Still, a young man was run over and killed by an army vehicle after Friday prayers and a general strike was called by separatist leaders. What I remember most was the sound of morning prayer harmonizing with the light of dawn and the first bird’s song. I am inspired by the power of faith and human kindness to lead through the darkest …

Do You Remember Kunan Poshpora?

A conversation with Essar Batool, co author of the book, Do you remember Kunanposhpora? Essar Batool works to develop leadership among young women and volunteers with Jammu Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society, documenting human rights violations in Jammu and Kashmir. There have been thousands of cases of torture in Indian administered Kashmir. Kuman and Poshpora are twin villages in Indian administered Kashmir. In 1991, at least 31 women were gang raped by the 4th Rajpuntana Rifles regiment of the Indian …

Women In Resistance: Kashmir and Palestine

On International Women’s Day, Kashmiri and Palestinian women discuss their resistance to occupation. Kashmir and Palestine are both under vast military occupation. The Israeli government controls the movement of people and goods within Palestine. Kashmir is the most densely militarized land on earth. An estimated 70,000 Kashmiris have died as a result of the Indian occupation. On March 8, 2015 Salima Hamirani and Tara Dorabji were in conversation with Palestinian American educator Samia Showman, Rama Kased from the Arab Resource …

4,000 Infants Dead in Kashmir

In Kashmir, the babies are dying. Since 2008, over 4,000 babies have died in the government run children’s hospital—Govind Ballabh Pant. Despite numerous government investigations, a complete change in administration, and massive civilian protests—no one has gotten to the bottom of why these babies continue to die. Aliya Bashir, a senior multimedia reporter with the Global Press Institute based in Indian-Administered Kashmir, discusses her work, covering infant mortality in Kashmir. This segment first aired on KPFA’s La Onda Bajita. Listen …

Kunan Poshpora Mass Rape Investigation in Kashmir

UC Berkeley lecturer, Huma Dar, discusses the recent court decision that is forcing the police in Kashmir to reinvestigate the 22-year-old gang rape case that took place in Kunan Poshpora in the Kupwara district of Indian administered Kashmir. There have been no convictions to date—after 22 years the victims have again taken their plea back to the court which is requiring further investigation. This edition of Kashmir Speaks aired on KPFA’s La Onda Bajita. The segment features Rasheed Jahangir’s song, …

Syeda Begum

I met Seyda at her house in Srinagar. We interviewed her in the courtyard then moved into her one room dwelling for the recording. She spoke Kashmiri and I could understand very few of her words. I heard her story in translation and interviewed her with the help of Syed Asma, Umar Beigh and Parvaiz Bukhari. What I understood deeply were her tears, a sorrow too deep to look at straight on. Below is my interpretation of her story. If …

Yasin Malik Arrested before Hunger Strike

Yasin Malik, the chairman of the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front, called for a hunger strike in New Delhi to draw attention to the thousands of disappeared people in Kashmir. Yasin Malik was taken into “preventative custody” by the Delhi police hours after this interview, explaining the demands of the hunger strike was recorded. According to the Kashmir Reader, Malik suffered from a cervical fracture after being manhandled by Delhi police. Yasin Malik was then forced to take a plane back …

Protest Music on the Execution of Afzal Guru

Afzal Guru was executed by the Indian government on February 9 in New Delhi’s Tihar Jail. Executions are extremely rare in India. Afzal Guru was charged and convicted of the 2001 parliament attack in Delhi. Afzal Guru was hung after his final plea for clemency was rejected. Since his execution there have been massive protests. In March the Kashimr Walla reported 4 deaths and 350 civilian injuries resulting from protests against his execution. The protests around Azfal Guru’s execution are …